Woo-Woo?  We commence “down time” with an interesting discussion about Nikola Tesla. Was he a great inventor?  Yes. But, is he also being deified by the simple-mind social mobs of the Internet?  Yes, I’m  afraid so.  In this, however, lies a tale of mental acuity that we can all learn from.  Or, not. (Continues Below)   … Read More

This is a very special day:  Lover or Farmer Day.  If you are a Lover, then it is the longest night of the year and you’re happy.  But, if you’re a Farmer, it’s the shortest day of the year – hence you have less light to get things down and you’re not-so-happy.  Aside from Season … Read More

Environment/ Woo-Woo:  I don’t get much time off, despite being nominally retired.  Keeping up on markets, news, and doing original research into topics that really fascinate me leave little time for sleep, and none (to speak of) for outright lazing-about.  Thought you might be interested in where certain projects are…and perhaps they will stir further adventures … Read More

There’s something stirring inside me – and no, not eggnog or sourdough pancakes.  It’s another book…and a follow-on to The Millennia’s Missing Manual: What School Didn’t Teach and What Old People Didn’t Explain.  Although this book is extremely useful, even when coupled with another great book on “matrix thinking” skills,  And Suddenly the Inventor Appeared: … Read More

First thing out of the hopper today is the Housing Start report from the Census Bureau: “Building Permits Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in November were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,298,000. Housing Starts Privately-owned housing starts in November were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,297,000. This is 3.3 … Read More

Survival:  Sitting at the dinner table for a Christmas dinner can be one of the most socially-awkward times of the year.  All depends on how Ure relations are with the other people at the table. Since Elaine and I are “dispersed parents” we don’t have but ourselves to entertain over Christmas, though we may jump … Read More

We awaken today on an odd planet where financial history is neither read nor understood.  A planet where people will buy into a manic episode of Bubble Finance without being to even produce the supposed inventor of the scheme. In short,  it’s like having a global Ponzi bubble without the convenience of someone to go … Read More

Communications: We have been bemoaning the over-abundance, over use, over-price, over-tech, over-indulgence, and over-rudeness of cell phones for a good, long time. Finally, although they get things generally wrong, California may be about to get something right. Start with the Forbes article here: “California’s Latest Precautionary Move Against “Cell Phone Radiation”. (Continues below)   The story is potentially … Read More

We delve into an interesting trend in today’s report:  What’s the future of home automation?  Shoot; let’s try some on and find out!  Yee-haw… We have plenty of media models (auto-opening doors on the Enterprise, for example) but we look at some of the other issues involved.  After headlines, charts, and a few snide remarks … Read More

You ever see one of those movies where a really hopped-up car (usually with either a supercharger of nitrous injection system) is “lit up” with the wheel cranked over…and then goes around in tire-smoking circles? That’s about as good a mental picture as it gets to explain what’s going on with the U.S. economy right … Read More

Food:  We have arrived at the most calorie-laden of yearly events, at last.  So this morning I wanted to share some things that will make you drool and wonder why is it Elaine still weighs what see did in high school. We can divide this into four parts:  Breakfasts, Lunches, Cocktails, and Dinners.  Sized for … Read More

We were almost astounded to see the Fed actually raise rates at their Wednesday session. But what was even more remarkable was the trading on Wall Street in the aftermath. The two key takeaways:  the Dow still gained 34-points and it’s set to open (again) on the upside by another 30 according to the futures. (Continues below) … Read More

Survival/Prep:  I had a toothache this week so one of the first items on my “survival/prepping” list is a good supply of whole cloves, clove oil – anything clovey.  Bet you weren’t expecting that, were you?  A trip to the dentist yesterday (and an emergency walletectomy is being scheduled with a colleague), some antibiotics and pain … Read More